Do I let my teen drop down to non-honors Alg 2?
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Anonymous
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Normally I would of course allow this if she was trying her best, doing the work, studying, and still struggling.
But that isn’t the case. She easily got A’s in previous middle school honors math classes and as a freshman is learning she can’t skate by like she always have. I have reminded her over and over again she needs to work/study harder but I am not seeing that at home. And I don’t want her to think dropping to non-honors is a an easy way out. Anyone ever in a similar situation. Should I have a meeting/email with the teacher, look for a tutor, or anything else? |
Anonymous
| Does she know how to work/study harder? Are you overseeing homework? Helping her with difficult problems? |
Anonymous
| No |
Anonymous
| Yes and yes I let her drop down. |
Anonymous
| Absolutely. In NOVA we push, push, push advanced math. If this is difficult, and she’s already taking Algebra 2 as a freshman, what will senior math look like. Look holistically at her schedule, if it’s filled with honors, let her make adjustments as needed. Pushing academics to an extreme is what causes anxiety, suicidal thoughts, etc. |
Anonymous
| "Easy way out" - oh my. This post is craziness. |
Anonymous
| Tutor who helps her learn how to study math. She's probably never done it. It's not something most kids know how to do since it's different than the studying they've done before. She's a freshman in algebra 2. Of course she needs some support. I wouldn't let her drop |
Anonymous
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No this isn’t a matter of struggling. This is a matter of executive function, time management, and studying habits. They won’t be any better dropping to easier courses. There is still homework, tests, etc..
They really need to stop making middle school so easy. Failing our kids in high school. |
Anonymous
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It's only going to get harder from here. Honors pre-calc is much harder.
I would let her drop. |
Anonymous
| Honors pre calc is very tough so if she is not going to end up taking that then probably not worth taking honors algebra 2 if she is not going to do well either because she isn’t willing to put in the work or the material is too hard. There is a big difference between math classes in middle school and high school. Check what your school’s drop policy is. You want to make a call if possible before it goes on her transcript. Finally would recommend you talk to the school about what (if any) implications there are for her Science classes. Some schools don’t allow honors Science if you are not in the honors Math class. |
Anonymous
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Dropping down to non honors is not "the easy way out" because if your teen is struggling with Algebra II in an honors (read: faster paced) setting they still need to understand the fundamentals of Algebra/Algebra II and likely need a slightly slower paced course to get a better grasp, which is what non honors Algebra II will give your student.
It is not failure, it's not them being lazy because yes, they will still have to do the work. If their schedule is loaded up with other honors classes it's not the end of the world (despite what some here may tell you) that they drop to non honors math. |
Anonymous
I agree with you. I suspect this is a common problem. At my daughter's public middle school, the math WAY too easy at the level of prealgebra and algebra 1. And there was hardly any homework assigned. Even the math oriented kids can breeze through with high A's without ever consolidating the material. I recognized this was going on, even as my kid was getting A+'s in math without much effort, and I was able to intervene with summer work so that my DD was actually prepared for Algebra 2 and precalc. |
Anonymous
| Learning how to study math is a skill - it really is different from studying for most other classes and it takes time to learn. Better to learn it now than in college (assuming your kid is planning to take math in college). |
Anonymous
| Wait so honors Algebra 1 and Honors Geometry are harder in high school vs in middle school? My kid found both pretty easy in middle school. Very little homework. Retakes on tests. And they too are struggling with the amount of work and pace of honors Algebra 2 |
Anonymous
| I would leave it up to the teacher. She would know which math class your daughter should be in. |